My Mind full of Miniatures

Do you know that feeling when you're completely certain about an idea and can't wait to get started? That's exactly how I felt once I'd decided that a large painting was needed above the desk. The internet provided a wealth of inspiration. Birds were popular Victorian pets, especially among ladies and young girls. Apparently, they also loved having their portraits painted with their feathered companions. I chose to use the oil painting below as my starting point. It was painted by Edouard Marie Guillaume Dubufe in 1871 and is titled A Treat for Her Pet . A horizontally oriented painting works much better above the desk, so I cropped the original image (although it was a shame to lose that beautiful dress and velvet cloak!) . I printed it in very pale tones and painted over it with acrylics. I could have drawn the whole thing myself, but working this way removes a bit of the risk of failure—which, admittedly, is something I always worry about. Don't you think...